Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 472: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a person (details supplied) in County Louth could obtain a school place as a matter of urgency for the current school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37519/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The selection and enrolment of pupils in second-level schools is the responsibility of the school management authorities. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking second level places in an area. This may result, however, in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice. As schools may not have a place for every applicant, a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants.

Section 29 of the Education Act 1998, provides parents with an appeal process where a Board of Management of a school or a person acting on behalf of the Board refuses enrolment to a student. Where a school refuses to enrol a pupil, the school is obliged to inform parents of their right under Section 29 of Education Act 1998 to appeal that decision to the Secretary General of my Department. Only where an appeal under Section 29 is upheld can the Secretary General of my Department direct a school to enrol a pupil.

Information in relation to the section 29 appeals procedures, including an appeals application form and contact details for the appeals administration section of my Department, have been sent to the parent of the student referred to by the Deputy. The parent has also been advised to contact the National Educational Welfare Board to seek assistance in this matter.

The National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) is the statutory agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The NEWB can be contacted at National Educational Welfare Board, National Headquarters, 16-22 Green Street, Dublin 7 or by telephone at 01-8738700.